History museums in Portugal

Belém Tower, also known as Torre de Belém, is a Manueline-Gothic fortress tower located in Lisbon, Portugal. Built in the early 16th century, the tower commemorates Vasco da Gama and the city's patron saint, São Vicente. It served both as a part of the city's defense and as a ceremonial monument to certify Portugal's influence during the European Age of Discovery.

The Jerónimos Monastery, situated in the Belém district of Lisbon, Portugal, is a significant historical and architectural landmark. It was commissioned by King Manuel I and built by architect Diogo de Boitaca in the Manueline style, a Portuguese version of late Gothic architecture. The monastery was constructed to celebrate the return of the renowned Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route to India. This discovery marked a significant milestone in world history, opening up new trade routes and opportunities for exploration.

A magnificent mansion that features a chapel and an extensive and well-maintained park. It is also known as Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire. Completed in 1910, the palace's style is a mixture of Roman, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture. Worth noting are also the spectacular Gothic features of

The Museu Arqueológico do Carmo, or Carmo Archaeological Museum, is situated in the ruins of the Carmo Convent in Lisbon, Portugal. This unique location provides a historical backdrop to the museum's extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits.

Saint George's Castle, known as Castelo de São Jorge in Portuguese, is the most renowned castle in Lisbon. It is situated on the highest hill in the city, providing a panoramic view of the Tagus River. This strategic location has made it a significant landmark and a popular tourist attraction in Lisbon.

The Church of Santa Engrácia, a 17th-century monument in Lisbon, Portugal, serves as the National Pantheon. This historic site is the final resting place of many significant Portuguese personalities. Its location in the Alfama neighbourhood places it near another notable Lisbon monument, the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora.

Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa, also known as Sé de Lisboa, is the oldest church in Lisbon, Portugal. Its construction began in 1147 and has undergone several renovations. The cathedral has survived many major earthquakes, which is why it reflects different architectural styles today. This historical monument stands as a testament to the city's resilience and architectural evolution over the centuries.

An amazing sight in the very centre of the city, with richly decorated interiors and an equally stunning exterior, which was also recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The highlight of this palace is the Arab Room – a beautiful gilded ballroom decorated in Moorish Revival style.

Visit this intriguing church built in the 14th century which mixes Gothic and Baroque influences into an interesting blend of styles. The interior boasts glamorous wood carvings that cover the stone structure of the church. The contrast between the plain façade and the richly decorated interior is s

Dating back to the 16th century, this imposing monastery is a precious historic and religious monument. It also has an architectonic value because several styles are mixed together here as it was partially rebuilt several times over the centuries. It is therefore not surprising that this building is

One of the famous Madeira wine lodges dedicated to presenting and promoting the traditional way of making Madeira wine.

A nice museum with plenty of valuable relics and artifacts from the town's rich history. You can spend a couple of interesting hours in here.

Numerous discoveries were made by Portuguese sailors during 15th and 16th centuries. Visit this Museum and a theme park reminding you of the Age of Discovery and find out a little bit more about Vasco da Gama’s journey to India or about Fernão de Magalhães’s expedition which resulted in the first c

The Church of Saint Roch is one of the earliest Jesuit churches in the world. Even though the exterior of this church is quite simple, its interior is elaborately decorated - it is a fusion of Mannerist and Baroque styles. The Church of Saint Roch boasts eight splendid chapels and three altars. One

If you want to know more about its history and culture, this is a place for you. Innovative museum with a great use of interactive exhibitions.

Want to know more about the Port wine, its history and production? Don't hesitate, visit this cellar and learn everything!

A former custom house and mint was built in 14th century but it was significantly remodelled in 17th century. It is believed to be the birth place of Prince Henry the Navigator, who is connected with the Age of the Discoveries. A beautiful sight that is part of the UNESCO heritage in Porto.

This representative manor which belonged to a powerful noble family is one of the greatest historics sights of Evora.

The collection of the National Coach Museum in Lisbon was situated in a former riding arena which served as a museum. Later, it was decided that the museum needed a new exhibition space and in May 2015, the new National Coach Museum was opened not far from the old one that was renamed to Royal Ridin

The Portuguese navy is famous all over the world and the Lisbon Navy Museum provides its visitors with a thorough insight into it. The Museum is located in the historical Jerónimos Monastery. Even though the museum itself was opened in 1963, its collection dates back to as early as 1863. This was th

The Convent of Grace, a national monument in Lisbon, is situated in a location that offers panoramic views over the city and the Tagus River. This historic site belonged to the Order of the Hermits of Saint Augustine, also known as the Order of Saint Augustine, and was known as the Order of Gracians in Portugal. The convent dates back to the early days of the Portuguese nation, having been founded in the 13th century.

Museum dedicated to the world-renowned Madeira embroidery. The collection features the finest, most exquisite pieces.

House of Madeira's most prestigious photographer Vicente Gomes da Silva now serves as a museum of Madeira photography.

Located in a former mansion of a passionate collector, this museum houses extensive collections ranging from ceramics to sculptures.

Museum dedicated to one of the island's former greatest resource of wealth - sugar. Artifacts regarding the manufacture and trade are on display.

The Museu Benfica – Cosme Damião is the museum of Portuguese sports club S.L. Benfica in Lisbon. The museum is named after the Portuguese football player-coach Cosme Damião, who was also one of the club's founders in 1904. This Benfica Museum contains 29 thematic areas including around 1,000 pieces

Museum Carris (Museu da Carris) is a museum in Lisbon that is dedicated to the past, present and future of public transport in Lisbon. In addition to permanent exhibitions, the museum organizes various cultural events. The Carris Museum in Lisbon is setup in chronological order, with its exhibitions

What used to be an industrial building is now Museu do Oriente (Museum of the Orient). Opened in 2008, this Museum of the Orient houses an extensive collection of items from various parts of Asia, including Turkey, Japan, China and India. Its exhibitions show the connection between distant cultures,

Mãe D’Água Amoreiras Reservoir - Museu da Água (The reservoir of the Mother of Water of the Amoreiras) commonly known by Mãe d'Água das Amoreiras, is the deposit (the chalice) that collects the waters coming from the Águas Livres aqueduct, in the district of Lisbon. It was designed in 1745 and compl

An interesting exhibition on the traditional Portuguese crafted ceramics and their history. Stop by if you are in the area.

The Museum of Aljube Resistance and Freedom is a historical museum in Lisbon that is dedicated to the history and memory of the fight against the dictatorship and the recognition of resistance in favour of freedom and democracy. The museum illustrates general characterisation of the Portuguese dicta

The Casa-Museu Amália Rodrigues is a house museum dedicated to the Portuguese singer and actress, the star of the fado music genre. Her personal belongings are displayed here.

Visitors to the Rua dos Correeiros Archaeological Nucleus can go on guided tour to this archaelogical museum that will show a number artefacts from various time periods. After that it is possible to get into a web of historical tunnels hidden under the building.

The Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts (Museu De Artes Decorativas Portuguesas) is a museum in Lisbon that is housed in the Azurara Palace. The museum recreates the aristocratic atmosphere of the eighteenth century by hosting one of the most representative and homogeneous collections of Applied Ar

The Casa-Museu Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves, or Casa de Malhoa, is a house museum in Lisbon with furniture and decorative pieces arranged as a residential home. The house was designed by the architect Norte Júnior in 1904 - 1905 and was built with the purpose of serving as a house and work studio for the

The Military Museum of Lisbon (Museu Militar de Lisboa) is located in the Largo dos Caminhos de Ferro in Lisbon and is the largest military museum in Portugal and one of the oldest museums in the city of Lisbon. In the Vasco da Gama Room it includes a collection of ancient cannons and modern murals

The Museu Nacional de Arqueologia (National Archaeology Museum of Portugal) is a museum in Lisbon. The museum is housed in the World Heritage Site, the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém, one of the most important buildings in Portugal, built in the Manueline style. The collection of the National Archa

The Belém Palace was built in the 18th century in what is now a historical part of Lisbon. Consisting of five buildings, the complex is an architectural gem, combining features of Baroque and Mannerist styles. It has been used as the official residence of Portugal's president since 1910. It also hou

The headquarters of the Museum of Lisbon is located in Campo Grande in Lisbon, housed in the Pimenta Palace and gardens.The museum is dedicated to the history of the city of Lisbon, from prehistoric times, through the Romans, the Visigoths and the Moors, to the present day. The collection includes t

The National Museum of Ethnology (Museu Nacional de Etnologia) is an ethnology museum in Lisbon that holds a collection dedicated to the ethnographic heritage of Portugal. The collection consists of two sub collections. The first assembled by the National Museum of Ethnology from the museum's launch

The Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro Museum (Museu Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro) is a museum in Lisbon that is dedicated to Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, the 19th century Portuguese artist known for his illustration, caricatures, sculpture, and ceramics designs. The museum contains sections with painting, ceramics and

The National Museum of Costume and Fashion (Museu Nacional do Traje e da Moda) is a museum in Lisbon that focuses on masculine and feminine costumes from the 18th and 19th centuries. The collection contains over 30.000 pieces.

Museu da Presidencia da Republica (The Museum of the Presidency of the Republic) is a presidential museum located in the Palace of Belém in Lisbon, dedicated to the history of the republic.

The Museu da Música (Museum of Music) is a museum in Lisbon that exhibits musical instruments. A highlight in the collection of the Museu da Musica is the 1725 Stradivarius cello once owned and played by King Luís I of Portugal who ruled from 1861 to 1889.

The Museu Geológico (The Geological Museum of Lisbon) is a museum in Lisbon that collects and displays pieces of Paleontology, Archeology and Mineralogy in two large rooms.

The National Theatre and Dance Museum (Museu Nacional do Teatro e da Dança) is a museum in Lisbon with a collection that consists about 260,000 pieces, costumes and stage props, sets, costumes, drawings, cartoons, programs, posters, postcards, manuscripts, leaflets, paper theaters from the 18th to 2

The Cordoaria Nacional is a former naval rope-making factory in Lisbon that is now an exhibition centre. The exhibition centre/museum features rotating exhibitions.

The Museum of Lisbon - Roman Theater is an on-site museum, located in the historic area of Lisbon that aims to reveal what used to be one of the most important monuments of the city of Olisipo. The museum wit the Roman Theater is set inside two buildings from different eras, one from the 18th centur

The Museu da Farmácia (the Pharmaceutical Museum) is a museum in Lisbon that is housed in the building of the National Pharmacy Association, in Santa Catarina. The collection of this pharmacy museum represents 5000 years of health history and is made up of many pieces of diverse geographical origin,

Museu da Água (the Water Museum) is a museum in Lisbon that is housed in the Barbadinhos Steam Pumping Station. The museum illustrates the history of the development of the water supply to Lisbon from the Roman times to today. It features four large steam engines dating from 1880.

The CCCM Museum presents some results and research from the Scientific and Cultural Center related to it (the Macau Science and Culture Centre), on the history of Portuguese-Chinese relations and the history of Macao. The museum hosts exhibitions presenting the history of Macau on the ground floor a

The João de Deus Museum is a house museum with a bibliographic, pedagogical and artistic character. It is dedicated to João de Deus, who was one of the greatest Portuguese poets of his generation (1830 – 1896). The museum has two objectives: to be a monument to the poet and also a library to support

The Museu das Comunicações (The Communications Museum) is a museum in Lisbon as well as a pedagogical space of scientific and technological nature, where, in a playful and interactive way, visitors can learn about the past of communications and technologies of the future.

The Museu da Electricidade (The Electricity Museum), is one of the finest examples of industrial construction in Portugal in the first half of the 20th century, located in Lisbon. It is a cultural center and museum of science for the general public. Its exhibition rooms show the past, present and fu

The National Sports Museum of Portugal (Museu Nacional do Desporto) is a museum in Lisbon that is located in the center of Lisbon, in the Foz Palace. It was inaugurated in 2012, the year in which Portugal celebrated 100 years of participation in the Olympic Games. The Museum also houses the National

Museum depicting life and work of the founder of the Franciscan congregation in Madeira who was taking care of orphans.

The Museum of National Republican Guard is located in the Carmo Quarters of Lisbon. The GNR is the national gendarmerie force of Portugal. Members of the GNR are military personnel. The main objectives of the museum is the incorporation, conservation, inventory handling and dissemination of the test